Brandon Lowe joked after Paul Skenes’ last start that a perfect game or no-hitter watch was becoming a routine occurrence for the Pirates ace.
What happened Tuesday certainly furthered that trend.
Skenes carried a perfect game into the fifth and a no-hitter into the seventh inning while delivering yet another incredible outing, this time eight innings of shutout ball to carry the Pirates to a 3-1 victory over the Rockies Tuesday at PNC Park.
While throwing up zeroes for the third time in his past four starts, Skenes allowed just two hits, didn’t walk anyone and struck out 10. He threw 98 pitches, 68 for strikes and lowered his ERA to 1.98, third-lowest in the National League.
It’s the second consecutive game Skenes has gone eight innings while allowing two hits along with no runs or walks, nearly matching what he did six days ago against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
When Skenes threw to first to get Ezequiel Tovar to complete the outing, he made a slow walk to the dugout while the 13,516 in attendance showered him with cheers.
Skenes recorded one out in the seventh before center fielder Mickey Moniak spoiled all the fun. Oneil Cruz made a valiant, diving effort on Moniak’s sinking liner but couldn’t come up with it.
No worries. Skenes followed by getting a popout to first base and a flyout to Cruz – helped by some impressive tail on a ball hit by lefty TJ Rumfield – to complete his seventh scoreless inning.
With 10 strikeouts, Skenes enjoyed his fourth career game of double-digit punchouts and first since July 6, 2025 in Seattle. This actually represented the first time Skenes has finished with double-digit strikeouts at PNC Park.
Skenes’ previous two times striking out 10 or more occurred May 17, 2024 at the Cubs and July 11, 2024 at the Brewers.
Breaking down Skenes’ 10 strikeouts, they came on three separate pitches, including six times using his four-seam fastball. The changeup accounted for three, Skenes’ sweeper two.
In his last start (May 5 at Arizona), Skenes was especially happy with the command and execution of his fastball. It looked similar against the Rockies. Skenes put it where he wanted, and Colorado really couldn’t touch it.
Among Skenes’ 18 whiffs, 10 came on his four-seamer, which he threw about 8% more than usual.
Offensively, the Pirates scratched enough across thanks to run-scoring singles from Nick Gonzales, Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds. Gregory Soto followed Skenes to record the save.
Continuing his strong season hitting with runners in scoring position, Gonzales staked the Pirates to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with his single through the right side.
Gonzales took an inside sinker to right field to notch his 11th hit with runners in scoring position since April 15 against the Nationals. After adding a double in the eighth, Gonzales increased his average to .321, sixth-best in the National League.
Lowe helped the Pirates extend their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth with his RBI single to right. Oneil Cruz, who finished with three hits, gave the Pirates life with a two-out double, his second of the game.
Lowe connected on a 1-0 changeup down, pulling it to right field for his 28th RBI of the season, extending his MLB lead among second basemen in that category.
Reynolds gave the Pirates another run in the seventh inning, reaching on an infield single to score Konnor Griffin.
Skenes and history
Skenes struck out the first six Rockies hitters he faced – four via four-seam fastballs, one on a changeup and the other a splitter. It marked just the third time in the Expansion Era (1961 to present) that a Pirates pitcher has struck out six or more consecutive batters to open a game.
Andrew Heaney was the last to do it, notching a half-dozen punchouts on April 23, 2025 at the Angels. Skenes whiffed seven to open that May 2024 game at Wrigley Field.
Lastly, Skenes became the only Pirates pitcher in the Expansion Era to strike out the side at least three times in a single game, doing so in the first, second and sixth innings.
Horwitz stays hot
With two more singles and a walk, Spencer Horwitz continued his strong stretch, where he’s hitting .370 (10 for 27) over his past seven games, with four doubles, nine RBIs, six walks and two runs scored.
Entering Tuesday, Horwitz’s RBI total was tied with Aaron Judge of the Yankees for the sixth-most in MLB.
Jones shines (again)
Jared Jones completed his third rehab start on Tuesday, this time with Double-A Altoona. Once again, the right-hander was outstanding, delivering four scoreless innings while allowing just three hits.
Jones threw 52 pitches, 36 for strikes, and he struck out four. In three rehab starts totaling 10 innings, Jones has allowed just one earned run (0.90 ERA) with one walk and 11 strikeouts.
Given his buildup, it’s likely Jones will make at least two more rehab starts in the Minor Leagues before it’s possible he could rejoin the roster in late May.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.